PSLR Certificate Program Course Offerings

*NEW* Fall 2014 - Spring 2015 Schedule

Fall 2014 Semester

Introduction to Public Sector Labor LawClick here to registerCourse Code: PSLR-LLFA-01-LECFriday, September 26th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Instructor: James Mastriani, M.S.This course will explore the fundamentals of public sector labor law, with a special focus on the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act. Participants will receive an overview of key public sector legal concepts, practices, and procedures, with topics including the role of administrative agencies, scope of negotiations, representation cases, unfair practices, and impasse procedures.

Discipline and Grievance Handling in the Public SectorClick here to registerCourse Code: PSLR-DGFA-14-LECFriday, October 10th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Instructor: Joyce M. Klein, Esq., J.D.This course will examine the grievance procedure, employee and employer rights and responsibilities, standards of just cause and their application to real life cases, and the burden of proof. Participants will discuss how to resolve grievances at the lowest level and will be given a brief overview of the arbitration hearing process.

Collective Negotiations in the Public SectorClick here to registerCourse Code: PSLR-CNFA-14-LECThursday, November 13th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Instructor: Joel M. Weisblatt, Esq., J.D.This introductory course provides the basic knowledge necessary to prepare for and conduct collective negotiations in the public sector. It will examine the structure of public sector bargaining, with a focus on recent trends; scope of negotiations; basic “costing out”; preparations for negotiations; and impasse procedures. Participants will receive useful tactical hints.

Conflict ResolutionClick here to registerCourse Code: PSLR-CRFA-14-LECThursday, December 11th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Instructor: Saul A. Rubenstein, Ph.D.Although labor relationships are rooted in underlying, fundamental conflicts of interest, there exist many techniques for reducing dysfunctional conflict. This class will expose participants to interest-based and other problem-solving techniques that can be used in grievances, at the bargaining table, and every day in the workplace. It also will examine models of labor-management cooperation in the public sector, and participants will learn through role playing and hands-on exercises.

Spring 2015 Semester

Advanced Public Sector Grievance ArbitrationClick here to registerCourse Code: PSLR-ADVGASP-15-LECWednesday, February 25th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Instructor: Joan Parker, Ph.D.This sequence of two courses is designed to increase the practitioner’s skills in preparing for and presenting grievance arbitration cases. Major subjects discussed include preparing for arbitration, the hearing, presenting a case, standards for just cause, evidence, criteria for contract interpretation, remedies, the arbitration decision, and different arbitration systems. This interactive class also includes a film.

Scope of NegotiationsClick here to registerCourse Code: PSLR-SNSP-15-LECThursday, March 19th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Instructor: Don Horowitz, Esq., J.D.This course will address all aspects of the scope of negotiations in New Jersey’s public sector. It will trace the legislative, judicial, and PERC developments that have impacted the issues that can and must be the subjects of collective negotiations and grievance arbitration. The class will also examine how PERC decides the scope of negotiations in particular cases.

Contract InterpretationClick here to register
Course Code: PSLR-CISP-15-LECFriday, April 17th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Instructor: Steven Weissman, Esq., J.D. & Philip Stern, Esq., J.D.This class will examine how the meaning and enforceability of contract language negotiated under the N.J. Employer-Employee Relations Act has evolved notably over the last 40 years, and how court decisions, arbitrators’ opinions, and PERC rulings have served to establish a set of principles and guidelines for negotiating binding contract language in the public sector. Participants will learn the processes and procedures of enforcing and interpreting contract provisions, from both labor and management perspectives.